Hooniverse Van-Tastic Weekend – Dodge A100 Forward Control Vans

Jim Brennan
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The Dodge A100 Vans got off to a late start compared to Ford and Chevrolet. The A100 was introduced in the autumn of 1963 for the 1964 model year, and closely copied the successful Ford Econoline with its conventional front engine, rear drive layout. What was unconventional about the Dodge was the front windshield, as it was a 2-piece affair rather than a single pane. So, would you like to follow Murilee Martin and own one of these vans, or would you rather own a Camry?


Our first eBay contestant is from the Harwell Motor Company in Sherman Texas. This is a 1966 Dodge A100 Window Van, that has been somewhat modified. It sports the 273 CID V-8, with an automatic. They describe the paint job as amateur quality, and the restoration it a bit amateurish as well. The Odometer shows 88,000 miles, and the interior could used some extra work.

The asking price for this Dodge is $7,999, which is really high according to the condition. See the Harwell Listing here.

Our next Dodge Van is actually an A108, because of the longer wheelbase. This one is in rough but rebuildable shape, with no rust (per the ad), period slotted wheels, rebuilt engine, and new rubber. It has opening windows, so it can be used as a camper, or a love wagon…. you’re choice.

The starting bid for this Dodge A108 is $999, and with two days to go, there isn’t a single bid. Take a look at the listing here.

I found our third Dodge A-100 on CarsOnline.com…. and that paint job is Eye Searing. According to the listing:

1969 Dodge A100 Custom Conversion Van. “Pink Panther”. Fresh two year complete restification of a 100% completely rust free california desert body. This vehicle was stripped to bare metal, repainted in an original dodge panther pink color. The entire driveline is fresh, featuring a hot slant six and auto trans. The interior is done in pink leapord material, with fresh seats and shag carpeting. Has a 2500 watt custom stereo, that blows everyone away. No expense was spared doing this one.

Asking Price? A Cool $13,900! There is a Video on this Van as well. See the CarsOnline listing here.

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Jim Brennan

Jim Brennan

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  1. west_coaster Avatar
    west_coaster

    I have great memories of these vans. When I was in Little League in the mid-1970s, our coach had a cargo version for his business. He'd routinely pile six to eight of us in the back of the van to go to games or practices. No seats…no seatbelts…we just sat on the floor.
    Yeah, I know, today that would be considered child endangerment, but we thought that van was pretty cool. From what I remember, it had a V8 and you could hear the whine of the Torqueflite through the bare metal floor whenever he'd accelerate from a stop. Good times.
    BTW, I'd take the brown and white one with the smoothies!

    Reply
  2. Mad_Hungarian Avatar
    Mad_Hungarian

    Oh nooo, another poop brown van! Well, if I have to choose, I'll take it over the Pepto-Bismol one. But the real question is why no one has yet offered a mere $999 for the Redneck Love Wagon. Assuming it moves under its own power, it's worth it just for the sheer trailer-trashiness of it all.
    Interesting that Chrysler did not put the pushbutton automatic shifters, of which it was still enamored, into the vans, instead using a dash mounted lever a little like the Corvair and a lot like the '55 Chrysler.

    Reply
    1. tonyola Avatar
      tonyola

      Chrysler was already phasing out the push-buttons on the automatic in the early and mid-'60s. I think the buttons were last used for the cars in 1964 – by 1965, a lever was being used on all Mopar cars. Also, the buttons and their potentially-flaky electrical connections probably wouldn't have been well suited in a van that was seen mostly for commercial purposes.

      Reply
      1. Rah Rah Records Avatar
        Rah Rah Records

        the buttons actuate cables. no electrical connections necessary.

        Reply
      2. sporty88 Avatar
        sporty88

        The push-button auto shift was abandoned after the SAE set a standard for automatic shift patterns, to be introduced by the 1965 model year. I'd guess that the engineering work for the vans was finalized after Chrysler were advised of this change.

        Reply
  3. Alff Avatar
    Alff

    I've been looking for an A-100 panel to do a recreation of the Monster Machine for my wife's floral business. The cheap one is the right price and not too far away, but I can't abide those prison-bus side windows.

    Reply
    1. Smells_Homeless Avatar
      Smells_Homeless

      If you're painting it up as the Mystery Machine anyway, those windows would be super easy to delete. (I assume you meant "Mystery Machine," I apologize if I missed a reference.)

      Reply
  4. TurboBrick Avatar
    TurboBrick

    Those sliding windows make me think that van is more like a "not entirely consensual"-love wagon. The frame just makes it look like a barred window.

    Reply
  5. ZomBee Racer Avatar
    ZomBee Racer

    I can see myself in the second van.

    Reply
  6. Sam Avatar
    Sam

    Nah. Early Gen 3 Econoline for me if I ever went for a classic van. With a 351 or 460, of course.

    Reply
  7. Van Sarockin Avatar
    Van Sarockin

    The money/fright pig ratios are off for all of these. Too bad. They're tough little beasts.

    Reply
  8. dustin_driver Avatar
    dustin_driver

    The Dodge forward-control vas are my favorite. I love how surprised they look.

    Reply
  9. Renzo Avatar
    Renzo

    My favorite off-shoot of the A-100 van: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1VuUOo-H0fQ/TvuqcbYqetI…

    Reply
  10. C³-Cool Cadillac Cat Avatar
    C³-Cool Cadillac Cat

    An A-108, a 1967 one, was the first vehicle I rode in as I came home from the hospital in 1968 in it, my first vehicle to drive when I was about 10…the clutch was a challenge for a little kid, the first vehicle I damaged by backing over a little-bitty pole sticking up out of the ground, my first vehicle to wrench on when I was about 7, with my dad, and first vehicle to own.
    I miss that truck, but it saved my life with it's height, mass, and build quality when a '70 Javelin T-boned me at about a 45 degree angle at what the cops thought was 70 MPH and still accelerating.
    I cried when I saw how catastrophic the damage was. You could see ground beneath where the driver's floor used to be.
    It was quite-literally a family member, and like a big brother to me.

    Reply
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